IC substrate with over voltage protection function and method for manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an IC substrate provided with over voltage protection functions and thus, a plurality of over voltage protection devices are provided on a single substrate to protect an IC chip directly. According to the present invention, there is no need to install protection devices at respective I/O ports on a printed circuit board to prevent the IC devices from damage by surge pulses. Therefore, the costs to design circuits are reduced, the limited space is efficiently utilized, and unit costs to install respective protection devices are lowered down.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions, more particularly, to an IC substrate provided with a structure having multiple over voltage protection devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A conventional over voltage protection device is installed near I/O ports on a printed circuit board to protect internal IC devices according to demands by each IC device. However, such design requires installing independent over voltage protection devices in accordance with requirements of respective circuits to prevent respective IC devices from being damaged by surge pulses.

[0003] Please refer to FIG. 1a, which is a top view of an IC device disposed on a conventional substrate. In FIG. 1a, there are a plurality of electrodes (11) and a grounding line (13) disposed on a substrate (12). Then, an IC device (10) is soldered to the plurality of electrodes and the grounding line. FIG. 1b is a sectional view of the IC device disposed on the conventional substrate. In FIG. 1b, we can understand the relationship among the constituent elements. Because such structure cannot provide over voltage protection functions, the IC device cannot withstand the energy of surge pulses, which result in an irrecoverable damage to the IC device.

[0004] In order to protect the IC device, several over voltage protection devices are frequently proposed. However, those over voltage protection devices need to install individual protection devices on a printed circuit board according to actual demands after the IC device was manufactured and installed near the I/O ports on the printed circuit board. Therefore, such design has the disadvantages of high design costs, wasting limited space, and providing incomplete protection for the IC device.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to provide an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions. In this substrate, a plurality of over voltage protection devices are provided simultaneously to solve the problems with the prior arts that are unable to provide the over voltage protection or to eliminate the inconvenience in the prior arts that needs to install individual protection devices on a printed circuit board. The present invention provides an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions to eliminate such inconvenience.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions and a method for manufacturing the same and thus, the IC device can be protected against the presence of surge pulses.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the grounding lines are disposed on a lower surface of a substrate and thus, the space is saved and the costs are reduced.

[0008] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a substrate having a plurality of over voltage protection devices, so that the design costs are reduced, the space is saved and the unit costs need for installing protection device on the IC circuits are reduced.

[0009] Further still another object is to provide an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the substrate can be designed by all kinds of IC packaging methods, such as DIP and SMD.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the protection circuits are installed after the IC is packaged.

[0011] In order to accomplish the above objects, the IC substrate comprises a substrate, and a grounding conductor layer for forming a grounding terminal. The grounding terminal is disposed on the lower surface of the substrate and extending to an upper surface of the substrate, thereby to expose one or more terminals on the upper surface of the substrate. One or more variable resistance material layers are disposed on exposed terminals of the grounding conductor layer. The grounding conductor layer terminals are electrically connected with the variable resistance material layers. A plurality of conductor layers form electrode terminals. Each conductor layer is disposed on the substrate and overlays on each of the variable resistance material, so as to form a connection with each of the variable resistance material layers. In practical application, the substrate is made of ceramic substrate or PCB.

[0012] In order to understand the technical contents and features of the present invention with ease, the present invention is described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The present invention will be illustrated according to the following drawings, wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1a is a top view of an IC device disposed on a conventional substrate;

[0015]FIG. 1b is a sectional view of an IC device disposed on a conventional substrate;

[0016]FIGS. 2a, 2 b and 2 c are sectional views of an IC substrate formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIGS. 2d and 2 e are top views of an IC substrate formed with over voltage protection functions according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views of an IC substrate formed with over voltage protection functions according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIGS. 6a and 6 b are top views of a multi-layer IC substrate formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIGS. 7a, 7 b and 7 c are sectional views of a multi-layer IC substrate formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIGS. 8a, 8 b, 8 c, 8 d and 8 e are sectional views of a BGA IC package formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 8f is a top view of a BGA IC package formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIGS. 9a and 9 b are sectional views of the IC substrate with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0024]FIGS. 10a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, 10 e and 10 f are sectional views of an IC substrate formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings. The same elements in the drawings have the same reference numerals.

[0026]FIGS. 2a, 2 b and 2 c are sectional views of an IC substrate formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2a, a first conductor layer is formed to be a grounding conductor layer (23) on a substrate (22). The first conductor layer is formed on a lower surface of the substrate and extends through the substrate to its upper surface. One or more terminals are formed on the upper surface of the substrate. As shown in FIG. 2b, one or more variable resistance material layers (24) are formed to overlay the terminals of the grounding conductor layer (23) so as to form connection with each of the variable resistance material layers. In addition, a plurality of second conductor layers (21) are formed to be upper electrodes. The second conductor layers overlay on the variable resistance material layers (24) so as to form connection with each of the variable resistance material layers. FIG. 2c is a sectional view of an IC chip (20) disposed on the substrate. A chip (20) is connected with the upper electrodes (21) by soldering, and a protection layer (25) is added to the chip to prevent from dust and moisture. FIG. 2d is a top view of the invention in FIG. 2a. FIG. 2e is a top view of the invention in FIG. 2b.

[0027]FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of connecting an IC chip with the upper electrodes by wire bonding.

[0028]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an IC substrate (42) with over voltage protection functions according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, one or more variable resistance material layers (44) are formed on a substrate (42). The variable resistance material layers are disposed on the lower surface of the substrate. A grounding conductor layer (43) is formed to be a grounding terminal. The grounding terminal is disposed on the lower surface of the substrate and extends to overlay on each of the variable resistance material layers. A plurality of conductor layers (41) are formed to be electrodes. The conductor layers are disposed on the upper surface of the substrate, and extend through the substrate to its lower surface so as to form connection with each of the variable resistance material layers.

[0029]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an IC substrate (52) with over voltage protection functions according to further another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a grounding conductor layer (53) is formed on a substrate to be a grounding terminal. The grounding terminal is disposed on the lower surface of the substrate. One or more variable resistance material layers (54) are disposed through the substrate and are connected with the grounding conductor layer. A plurality of conductor layers (51) are formed to be electrode terminals. Each of the conductor layers are disposed on the upper surface of the substrate, and overlays each of the variable resistance material layers and is connected with them.

[0030] When a surge pulse occurs, the energy of the surge pulse will enter the electrode terminals (51) to propagate to the grounding terminal (53) through the variable resistance material layers (54). Because the nature of the variable resistance materials and its structure, the energy of the surge pulse will be released evenly to the grounding lines and thus, the IC device (50) will not be damaged and the object to protect the IC device is achieved.

[0031]FIGS. 6a and 6 b are top views of a multi-layer IC substrate formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6a, one or more grounding conductor layers (83) are formed on a first substrate (821) to be grounding terminals, which extend to a upper surface of the first substrate and is disposed on the lower surface of the first substrate, thereby forming one or more terminals on the upper surface of the first substrate. One or more variable resistance material layer (84) are formed on the first substrate (821) and overlay the terminals of grounding conductor layers (83) appeared on the substrate and are connected with each of the grounding conductor layers. A plurality of first conductor layers (811) are formed on the upper surface of the first substrate (821). Each of the conductor layers (811) is disposed on the substrate and overlays on each of the variable resistance material layers (84), so as to form an electrical connection with each of the variable resistance material layers. The plurality of first conductor layers (811) extend through the first substrate (821), and terminals of the first conductor layer (811) appear on the upper and lower surfaces of the first substrate (821).

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6b, a plurality of second conductor layers (812) are formed on a second substrate (822) to be electrode terminals. The plurality of second conductor layers extend through the second substrate (822), and terminals of the second conductor layer appear on the upper surface of the second substrate (822). The second substrate (822) is disposed on the upper surface of the first substrate (821), wherein the first conductor layers (811) are electrically connected with the second conductor layers (812). In FIG. 6b, an IC chip (80) is disposed on the second substrate (822), and a protection layer (85) is added to the second substrate.

[0033]FIGS. 7a, 7 b and 7 c are sectional views of forming a multi-layer IC substrate formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7a, a plurality of first conductor layers (611) are formed on a first substrate (621). Each of the conductor layers (611) is disposed through the first substrate, and terminals of the conductor layer appear on the upper surface and lower surface of the first substrate (621). A plurality of second conductor layers (612) are formed on a second substrate (622). Each of the conductor layers (612) is disposed through the second substrate (622), and terminals of the conductor layer (612) appear on the upper surface and lower surface of the second substrate (622). Holes are formed on the second substrate (622) and filled with one or more variable resistance material layers (64). The variable resistance material layer (64) is disposed through the second substrate (622). Terminals of the variable resistance material layers appear on the upper surface of the second substrate. A grounding conductor layer (63) is formed on the second substrate (622) to be a grounding terminal, which is disposed on the lower surface of the second substrate. A plurality of third conductor layers (613) are formed on a third substrate (623) to be electrode terminals. The plurality of third conductor layers are disposed through the third conductor layers appear on the upper and lower surfaces of the third substrate.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 7b, the second substrate (622) overlays the first substrate (621). The lower portion of the variable resistance material layers (64) is connected with the grounding conductor layer (63). The terminals (612) on the lower surface of the second substrate are connected with the terminals (611) on the upper surface of the first substrate (621). The third substrate (623) overlays the second substrate (622). The third conductor layer (613) is connected with the variable resistance material layer (64) and the terminals (612) on the upper surface of the second conductor layer (612), respectively.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 7c, an IC chip (60) is disposed on the third substrate (623). The chip (60) is connected with the upper electrodes by soldering. A protection layer (65) is added to prevent from dust and moisture.

[0036] Please note that the variable resistance material layers can be made of non-linear resistance materials.

[0037]FIGS. 8a, 8 b, 8 c, 8 d and 8 e are sectional views of a Ball Grid Array (BGA) IC package formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8f is a top view of a BGA IC package formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 8a, a plurality of grounding conductor layers (731, 732, 733) are formed on a BGA IC package to be grounding terminals. Each of the terminals is disposed on the surface of the BGA IC package. As shown in FIGS. 8b and 8 f, one or more variable resistance material layers (74) are formed on the plurality of grounding conductor layers (731, 732). Each of the variable resistance material layers is disposed on the terminals of the grounding conductor layers (731, 732) and is connected with each of the grounding conductor layers. As shown in FIG. 8c, a plurality of variable resistance material layers (74) are connected with electrode terminals (71) and grounding conductor layers (731, 732, 733). As shown in FIG. 8d, a second protective layer (76) is disposed on the electrode terminals and the variable resistance materials layers. FIG. 8e is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention after solders are added on the electrode terminals and the grounding conductor layers.

[0039]FIGS. 9a and 9 b are sectional views of the IC substrate with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040]FIGS. 10a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, 10 e and 10 f are sectional views of an IC substrate formed with over voltage protection functions according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for forming an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions comprises the following steps. As shown in FIGS. 10a and 10 b, one or more desired holes are formed in the substrate (102) by laser or punching. As shown in FIG. 10c, the holes are filled variable resistance material layers (104). As shown in FIG. 10d, a lower electrode (103) is formed on the substrate. The lower electrode (103) overlays each of the variable resistance material layers (104) and is connected with the variable resistance material layers (104). As shown in FIG. 10e, a plurality of upper electrodes (101) are formed on the upper surface of the substrate (102). Said upper electrodes (101) overlay each of the variable resistance material layers (104) and are connected with the variable resistance material layers (104). Said upper electrodes and lower electrodes are formed by printing or metal foil pressing. FIG. 10f is a sectional view of an IC chip (100) disposed on the substrate (102).

[0042] Although the invention has been disclosed in terms of preferred embodiments, the disclosure is not intended to limit the invention. The invention still can be modified or varied by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention which is determined by the claims below. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An IC substrate with over voltage protection functions, comprising: a substrate; a grounding conductor layer for forming a grounding terminal, said grounding terminal being disposed on a lower surface of the substrate and extending through the substrate to an upper surface of the substrate, thereby to form one or more terminals appeared on the upper surface of the substrate; one or more variable resistance material layers disposed on the terminals exposed on the grounding conductor layer and electrically connected with the variable resistance material layers; and a plurality of conductor layers for forming electrode terminals, each conductor layer being disposed on the substrate and overlaid on each of the variable resistance material so as to form a connection with each of the variable resistance material layers.
 2. An IC substrate with over voltage protection functions, comprising: a substrate; one or more variable resistance material layers disposed on a lower surface of the substrate; a grounding conductor layer for forming a grounding terminal, said grounding terminal being disposed on the lower surface of the substrate and extending to overlay each of the variable resistance material layers so as to form a connection with each of the variable resistance material layers; and a plurality of conductor layers for forming electrode terminals, each of the conductor layers being disposed on an upper surface of the substrate and connected with each of the variable resistance material layers.
 3. An IC substrate with over voltage protection functions, comprising: a substrate; a grounding conductor layer for forming a grounding terminal, said grounding terminal being disposed on the lower surface of the substrate; one or more variable resistance material layers disposed through the substrate and connected with the grounding conductor layers; and a plurality of conductor layers for forming electrode terminals, each conductor layer being disposed on an upper surface of the substrate and overlaying each of the variable resistance material layers, and connected with each of the variable resistance material layers.
 4. An IC substrate with over voltage protection functions, comprising: a first substrate; one or a plurality of the grounding conductor layers for forming a grounding terminal, said grounding terminal being disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate and extending to an upper surface of the first substrate, thereby one or a plurality of terminals is formed on the upper surface of the first substrate; one or more variable resistance material layers disposed on the terminals exposed on the grounding conductor layer and connected with each of the grounding layers; a plurality of first conductor layers disposed on the substrate and overlaying on each of the variable resistance material layers so as to be connected with each of variable resistance material layers, the plurality of the first conductor layers being disposed through the first substrate, thereby terminals of the first conductor layers is exposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the first substrate; a second substrate disposed on the upper surface of the first substrate; and a plurality of the second conductor layers for forming electrode terminals, which are disposed through the second substrate and connected with the first conductor layers on the first substrate, and a terminal of the second conductor layer being exposed on an upper surface of the second substrate.
 5. An IC substrate with over voltage protection functions, comprising: a first substrate; a plurality of the first grounding conductor layers disposed through the first substrate, thereby terminals of the first grounding conductor layers being exposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the first substrate; a second substrate disposed on the first substrate; a plurality of the second conductor layers disposed through the second substrate, thereby terminals of the second conductor layers being exposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the second substrate, wherein the terminals exposed on the lower surface of the second substrate are connected with the first conductor layers exposed on the upper surface of the first substrate; a grounding conductor layer for forming a grounding terminal disposed on the lower surface of the second substrate; one or more variable resistance material layers disposed through the second substrate, so that lower portion terminals of the variable resistance material layers is connected with the grounding conductor layer and upper terminals of the variable resistance material layers are exposed on the upper surface of the second substrate; a third substrate disposed on the upper surface of the second substrate; and a plurality of the third conductor layers for forming electrode terminals through the third substrate, the terminals exposed on a lower surface terminals of the third substrate being connected with the second conductor layers of the second substrate, and terminals of the third conductor layers being exposed on the upper surface of the third substrate.
 6. The IC substrate with over voltage protection functions of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the variable resistance material layers are non-linear resistance material layers.
 7. The IC substrate with over voltage protection functions of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the substrate are made of ceramic materials or polymer materials.
 8. The IC substrate with over voltage protection functions of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the electrode terminals are connected with a chip by soldering or wire bonding.
 9. The IC substrate with over voltage protection functions of any one of claims 1-5, further comprising a protection layer for reducing the influence from an outside environment.
 10. A ball grid array (BGA) IC package with over voltage protection functions, comprising: a BGA IC package having a substrate; a plurality of grounding conductor layers for forming grounding terminals and disposed on a surface of the BGA IC package; one or more variable resistance material layers overlaying on the grounding conductor layers and connected with them; and a plurality of electrode materials, wherein the variable resistance material layers are connected with the plurality of the electrode terminals and the plurality of grounding conductor layers.
 11. The BGA package with over voltage protection functions of claim 10, wherein the substrate are made of ceramic materials or polymer materials.
 12. The BGA package with over voltage protection functions of claim 10, wherein the electrode terminals are connected with a chip by soldering or wire bonding.
 13. The BGA package with over voltage protection functions of claim 10, further comprising a protection layer for reducing influence from an outside environment.
 14. A method for manufacturing an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions, comprising the following steps: forming a first conductor layer to be a grounding conductor layer on a substrate, wherein the first conductor layer is formed on a lower surface of the substrate and extends through the substrate to its upper surface, thereby to expose one or more terminals of the first conductor layer on the upper surface of the substrate; forming one or more variable resistance material layers for overlaying the exposed terminals of the grounding conductor layer and connected with each of the first conductor layers; and forming a plurality of second conductor layers to be upper electrodes, said second conductor layers extending to overlay the variable resistance material layers and connected with each of the variable resistance material layers.
 15. A method for manufacturing an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions, comprising the following steps: forming a first conductor layer to be an upper electrode, wherein the first conductor layer is formed on an upper surface of the substrate and extends through the substrate to its lower surface, thereby exposing one or more terminals on the lower surface of the substrate; forming one or more variable resistance material layers, wherein each of the variable resistance material layers is disposed on the exposed terminals of the grounding conductor layers and is connected with each of the variable resistance material layers.
 16. A method for manufacturing an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions, comprising the following steps: forming a conductor layer on a surface of a substrate; etching the conductor layer into a desired shape to be a grounding conductor layer; forming one or more desired holes through the substrate; flipping the substrate and filling the holes with variable resistance material layers; and forming a plurality of upper electrodes on a surface of the substrate opposite to the conductor layer, wherein the upper electrodes overlay on each of the variable resistance material layers.
 17. A method for manufacturing an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions. comprising the following steps: forming one or more grounding conductor layers on a first substrate to be grounding terminals, which extend through the first substrate and are disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate, thereby to expose one or more terminals on an upper surface of the first substrate; forming one or more variable resistance material layer on the first substrate to overlay the terminals of the grounding conductor layers so as to form connections with each of the grounding conductor layers; forming a plurality of the first conductor layers on the upper surface of the first substrate, wherein each of the conductor layers overlays each of the variable resistance material layers so as to be connected with each of the variable resistance material layers, and the plurality of the first conductor layer extend through the first substrate to expose terminals on the upper and lower surfaces of the first substrate; forming a plurality of second conductor layers on a second substrate to be electrode terminals, wherein the plurality of the conductor layers extend through the second substrate to expose terminals on the upper surface of the second substrate; and disposing the second substrate on the upper surface of the first substrate, wherein the first conductor layers are connected with the second conductor layers.
 18. A method for manufacturing an IC substrate with over voltage protection functions, comprising the following steps: forming a plurality of first conductor layers on a first substrate, wherein each of the first conductor layers extends through the first substrate to expose terminals on an upper surface and a lower surface of the first substrate; forming a plurality of second conductor layers on a second substrate, wherein the second conductors layers extend through the second substrate and to expose terminals of the second conductor layers on the upper surface and lower surface of the second substrate; forming holes on the second substrate and filling the holes with one or more variable resistance material layers, wherein the variable resistance material layers extend through the second substrate, the upper portion of the variable resistance material layers is exposed on the second substrate to be terminals; forming a grounding conductor layer on the lower surface of the second substrate to be a grounding terminal; disposing the second substrate on the first substrate, wherein lower portions of the variable resistance material layers are connected with the grounding conductor layer, and the terminals of the lower surface of the variable resistance material layers are connected with the upper surface of the first substrate; forming a plurality of third conductor layers on a third substrate to be electrode terminals, wherein the third conductor layers extend through the third substrate to expose terminals of the third conductor layers on an upper surface and a lower surface of the third substrate; and disposing the third substrate on the second substrate, wherein each of the third conductor layers is connected with the variable resistance material layers and the terminals exposed on the second conductor layer.
 19. A method for manufacturing a ball grid array (BGA) IC package with over voltage protection functions, comprising the following steps: forming a plurality of grounding conductor layers on a BGA IC package to be grounding terminals, wherein each of the terminals is disposed on a surface of the BGA IC package; forming one or more variable resistance material layers on the plurality of grounding conductor layers, wherein each of the variable resistance material layers are disposed on terminals of the grounding conductor layers and connected with each of the grounding conductor layers; and a plurality of electrode terminals, wherein the variable resistance material layers are connected with the plurality of electrode terminals and the plurality of grounding conductor layers.
 20. The method of any of claims 14-18, wherein the step of forming the conductor layers comprising the following steps: spinning photoresist on the substrates; and etching the substrates by photolithography to form a predetermined pattern n the substrates.
 21. The method of any of claims 14-18, wherein the photoresist is removed by washing.
 22. The method of any of claims 14-18, wherein the holes of the substrates are etched by laser or punching.
 23. The method of any of claims 16-18, wherein the holes are filled with the variable resistance material layers.
 24. The method of any of claims 14-18, wherein the electrode terminals are formed on the substrate by printing or gold foil pressing.
 25. The method of any of claims 14-18, further comprising the step of connecting the electrode terminals to a chip, wherein the connection is made by soldering or wire bonding. 